Survey - what would you consider?

[GEK064]

I find myself in a quandary :confused:- my 99D2 (7 seats, dual-fuel manual V8) has, what seems like the obligatory slipped sleeve(s) and or blown head gasket. [no oil in the water, but losing coolant and building huge pressure in the pipes, which caused splits etc, plugs 8,7,4 all show systematic BHG signs].

I’ve been able to identify four options:

1.repair the damage on this motor and hope the block has not been irreversibly damaged. Cost of doing all the sleeves and gaskets etc about $3-4 - assuming the the block is fine.
2.Fit a new 4 liter long motor - cost $11-12k
3.Fit a new 4.6l liter short motor - cost $8k
4. Trading in on a ES7 auto 01D2 TD5 with a new replacement motor. My outlay is $10k

The cost difference is obvious, but I can’t afford a near new D3 or Defender, so will be keeping the D2 for a while. Mine has done 220k the TD5 137k, apparently mine has already had the motor replaced.

I love the manual V8 but it’s thirsty and my better half would like an auto. My tires will soon need replacing and the TD5 has near new tires (not to mention I have some rear quarter panel damage and the TD5 is straight). Mine is black and the TD5 is Blue.

What do I use it for? everything - daily driver, weekend family car (4 kids) towing the boat, camping etc

What to do? Auto vs manual, Petrol Vs Diesel, Risk Vs Risk arhhhhh - Are there things I need to consider with each option? Doing the work myself in currently not an option.

If you have an opinion I’d love to hear it!

[DiscoDan]

10K out lay would give you a 4.6 manual on gas + a set of tyres, I own a TD5 auto, but have borrowed a V8 manual for my daughter to learn in. More fun than auto.

Also consider gas price vs diesel price, gas is under 1/2 price (company car on gas and I can get 800kms out of 100 litres)

Fixing your car will also give you something you know at the end.

[Aaron40]

Damn hard one... you know the history of yours where as if the 01 already has a replacement motor... it may have other issues and where did the replacement motor come from? Was the sump bolt done in the td5?

Has yours got lots of aftermarket parts because if you trade yours you may not be able to put them on the td5....

Does anyone on here know the history of the td5?

If you have looked after yours then I think I would stay with what you know!

[Pauly85]

sometimes it is a case of better the devil you know, at least if you fix yours you will know that you will not have those problems again for a long time

on a side note if you oull your heads off and find out the you have a slipped liner or a cracked block, if you shop around you could get your blocled resleaved with tophat liners for under 3 grand, in my case my block was not repairable (cracked badly) and sourced a second hand block to re sleve for $250, but also in my case my motor had a lack of maintanence (i got stooged with dodgy service records) and ended up replacing everthing in the motor with brand new parts, except the crack (which needed to be grinded) and the pistons

i done alot of the work myself which saved on labour, and mates rates with some of the parts, if i had have taken it to a shop to get fixed i would have parted with 10 grand easily, but i got out of it for around the 4.5 mark

getting your hands dirty is worth it to the hip pocket

[big guy]

So long as the TD5 checks out, I would definately go that way.
Better colour-IMHO.
Less kilometres not just the motor but all round running gear.
Better economy and no endless weeks without a car and hoping all is well.

That is assuming all checks out with it and its not a lemon.

If you did go the rebuild option, try TRS in SA, they have some short and long 4.6 there and even some high comp ones from memory.

Go the whole hog than, Haltech injection, head work and exhaust and you will not look back.
I did that twice and by golly do they move.
Not sure if the 380 box is quite up for it though long term, mine were autos and I dropped fluids every 10k km's.

Out with the old and in with the new.:p

[GEK064]

Hope we all have a trouble free Australia Day........

I hear you........better the devil you know........out with the old and in with the new.......what is it about a V8 that lures a grown man or what is it about a TD5 that makes we shy away.....the deisel makes more sense for trips away, the auto more sense in the city but yet I look at MY 99D2 and it seems to have a soul saying "no not me"....maybe another thread could be titled "do D's have a soul".....apologies if I'm a blasphemer.......
......have I missed an option? Are TD5 01D2 reliable?.....I had nearly 100k of good hassle free motoring (except LPG problems)....
In the mean time more opinions are good

[Sully]

A 4.6 conversion would be ideal. How hard is it to do a conversion to an auto box while the engine is out? (based on fixing the V8 of course)

Oh yeah... Yes they have souls and they are listening. Be careful what you say!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

LPG problems are not the cars fault.
Build a new top hatted 4.6 and away you go. (sounds easy if you say it fast,,)
sell that gas system and put a good one in.
Mines a sprint gas injection system and there is NO driving difference on gas and NO way of telling when the swapover occurs(except for the little orange light:p)

If you make up your mind to swap cars,, go for a REALLY late D2a. no point in paying money and standing still;)

[GEK064]

Thanks to all. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced the TD5 auto is too 'sensible' for me. Can you share the approximate cost of a Sprint gas injection system?

As to the auto/wife issue, I'm now informed that my significant other is eyeing up a 2004 D2 auto V8 for herself......I'm I lucky or doomed to a life of poverty?

A question on top hatting - If a bought a new short motor would it not already be done? or it that an additional cost?

Certainly is hot out here 38'c in the shade.

[Defender Mike]

Go the TD5 and chip it . You will love it. The v8 will very quickly fade to a distant memory. :)

[Bilbo]

The petrol V8 v Diesel TD5 decision involves the heart as much as the head. If you like quiet swift pull away from rest and 5 km per litre economy then go the v8. If you can put up with sluggish pull away and noisy idle but love the range that 10 km per litre gives you, then go the TD5. I have had both and would choose the TD5 (I am over 50 now!).
The auto v manual is easy. I have had both - automatic is much easier around town, much better control when rock crawling, much the same in sand and no clutch to replace, ever.

[Traco]

Stick with the V8, only use this as an opportunity to go 4.6 but only if it's top hatted.

For under 10K you could bring in one of Turner Engineering's finest long crate engines - flanged iron liner block, stage 1 heads, new rocker assemblies, cam and timing gears already built up. Just add your front cover and injection and you're good to go.

[BMKal]

To me - a no brainer. Get the Td5 and if you want a bit more squire, as Disco Mike has said, chip it.

I changed from a V8 to a Td5 a while back, and have never looked back. Would never even consider another V8.

[Pauly85]

Thanks to all. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced the TD5 auto is too 'sensible' for me. Can you share the approximate cost of a Sprint gas injection system?

As to the auto/wife issue, I'm now informed that my significant other is eyeing up a 2004 D2 auto V8 for herself......I'm I lucky or doomed to a life of poverty?

A question on top hatting - If a bought a new short motor would it not already be done? or it that an additional cost?

Certainly is hot out here 38'c in the shade.

the brand new v8 short motors that i looked at were not fitted with the top hat liners. but even knowing this i nearly went with that option only because when i was doing mine, landrover had a special on where i could get a short motor landed from uk to melb for 2 grand brand new, but decided against it because their short motors dont include pistons, crank, camshaft, oil pump....it was litterally just the block where as (or so i was told anyway) that most (all?) other short motors for any other make of car comes with these componants

[rusty05]

10K out lay would give you a 4.6 manual on gas + a set of tyres, I own a TD5 auto, but have borrowed a V8 manual for my daughter to learn in. More fun than auto.

Also consider gas price vs diesel price, gas is under 1/2 price (company car on gas and I can get 800kms out of 100 litres)

Fixing your car will also give you something you know at the end.


tick this box.

Get the 4.6, u have the gas already!

[GEK064]

I've pretty much decided on the 4.6, but a have question to you all. When I asked if the new short motor had it's liners done, I was told this is a brand new recently manufactured new generation motor - does this mean the liners are on longer a problem? There are so many questions to ask I hardly know where to start! What should I look out for? The mechanics are in western sydney and are landy specialists so they know their stuff but i'm concerned that I might not!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

BEWARE!
unless they can say "yes its been tophatted" run a mile! search for "grumndriva" last few posts,,,
go the Turner motor--:cool: